The Circle: Who is Tim Wilson? Ex-UKIP professor who worked at this university!

Eve spends her days writing about TV and film, music, and practically every reality TV show under the sun. When she’s not writing you can find her out with friends, making music or attending events for the brand.

After a incredibly popular and talked-about first series, The Circleis back on Channel 4 from Tuesday, September 24th. And this year, things are being taken up a notch.

The players of The Circle series 2 include surprise celebs, three catfishes in the mix and some rather eccentric characters.

We’ve done some digging into Tim and found out he has a rather unusual and fascinating past in the public eye… here’s what we found!

The Circle series 2 – Tim

Who is Tim Wilson?

Tim Wilson was born on May 12th, 1961 and attended Ratcliffe College, a boarding school in Leicestershire before attending Oxford University to study Theology. He graduated with a BA in 1984.

Tim continued to study at St Benet’s, Oxford for a MA in Theology and also at King’s College London.

The 58-year-old is now a Professor of Theology and lectures on animation as well. He most recently was teaching at the Moscow State Pedagogic University.

Tim has been with his partner, Necati Zontul for nearly 19 years. They live in Rugby with their cat, who will also be making an appearance in The Circle!

Animation career

Tim’s first career choice was not as an academic, but as an animator.

His dreams of an animation career were formed after he saw 1972’s Oscar-winning A Christmas Carol as a child. Tim worked in a variety of animation studios in London after he finished school but it was not enough work and so he returned to lecturing.

Seven years ago, Tim created an animated lectured called How to Be Boss on “what is said about leadership by Plato, Keynes, and Mrs Thatcher, with reference to trait theory.” You can view an early version of the animation here.

Tim also continues to draw political sketches and illustrations – his work was once featured in The Guardian – which you can check out on his blog.

READ MORE: We found The Circle’s Brooke on Instagram – she’s also a travel YouTuber!

Tim’s UKIP career

In 2015, Tim was selected to stand for UKIP in South Northamptonshire for the general election on May 7th.

But on March 24th of that year, Tim Wilson resigned from the UKIP party in solidarity with Humza Yousaf, a Member of Scottish Parliament. Scotland’s only UKIP MEP, David Coburn, compared Humza Yousaf with a convicted terrorist. The scandal obviously hit the press and there was unanimous outrage, apart from UKIP leader Nigel Farage who brushed it off as a joke.